Charging means for blast furnaces



1932. K. F. JUENGLING I CHARGING MEANS FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed June 8, 1931 5 Sheets$heet 1 w I l I 1 Iii Dec. 20, 1932. F, JUENGLlNG 1,891,821

CHARGING MEANS FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed June 8, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 20,1932. JUENGLING 1,891,821

CHARGING MEANS FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed June 8, 1951 ssheets-sheet s I Avvavrae: 144a E/l/E/VGL l/V6 Dec. 20, 1932. JUENGLING 1,891,821

CHARGING MEANS FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed June 8, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 :umi i i h I H6. /4 76 \Hmmnuuuumumuum W Dec. 20, 1932.

K. F. JUENGLING CHARGING MEANS FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed June 8, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 m1. F. JUENGLING, F LAKEWOOD, OHIO CHARGING MEANS non BLAST FURNACES Application filed June a, 1931. Serial No; 542,801.

FFECE I My invention particularly relates to charging means for blast furnaces by means of which the stock can be charged into thefurnace so as to secure a uniform distribution of the fine and coarse material. It is well known to those skilled in the art that the furnace stock, which consists of ores, limestone, and coke, of different sizes is quite often very unevenly distributed, resulting in many disadvantages'such as lack of fuel economy, channelling, and other non-uniform passage of the air and gas, erosion of furnace lining, and other operating difficulties. My improved mechanism is designed to correct 0 these disadvantages.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forthin detail certain means exemplifying my invention, such means constituting, however, but a few of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be embodied. V

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a central fragmentary vertical F section of a furnace top equipped with one form of my improved charging means;

Figure 2 is also a central fragmentary vertical section of a furnace top equipped with the same form of my improved charging means, only a part of the elements .of Figure 1 being shown, however, this part particularly including the improved charging means and being shown upon an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan section, taken in the planes indicated by the line 33,' Figure 2. and particularly showing improved rotatable stock-splitting means forming part of my invention;

Figure 4 is an elevation of one of the m stock-splitting members, the view being taken from the planes indicated by the line '-14, Figure 2;

Figure 5. is a fragmentary vertical section of one of the stock-splitting vanes, taken in the plane indicated by the line 5-5, Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an elevation of a certain bracketformed with journal boxes for'the reception of shafts forming part of the mechanism for rotating an upper hopper and rotating the stock-splitting means, the elevation being taken from the'plane indicated by the line 6-6, Figure 2; i e

Figures 7, 8, and 9 are plan sections, taken, respectively, from the planes indicated by the lines 7-7, 8 -8, and 99, Figure 2; Figure 10is a' fragmentaryhorizontal section, taken inthe plane indicated by the line 10-10, Figure '2; r I Figure 11 is afragmentary horizontal section, taken in the planes indicated by the 82 1 line 11--11, Figure 2;

- Figure 12 is a stillifurther enlarged view of a portion of'Figure 2, showing roller mechanism and associated'elements utilized for the'rotation of the upper, hopper and for the rotation of the stock-splitting means;

Figure 13 is an elevation, taken. from the left side of Figure 12, and particularly showing'the brackets and journ'alboxes for the P vane supporting and hopper supporting mechanism; 1 t

Figure 14 is a plan view 'of-the elements shown in Figure 12;"

Figure 15 is a-fragmentary vertical section, upon an enlarged scale, of acertain portion of Figure 12; H j

Figure'16 .is a fragmentary plan section, similar to Figure 3,; but upon a reduced scale, showing a modified form of'stock splitting vane; I

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure'lti, showing a second modified form of stocksplitting vane; i i

' FigurelSis a central vertical section, similar to Figure but upon a reduced scale, showing a modified arrangement of stocksplitting vanes; I v

Figure 19 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 1919, Figure 18, and showing a pl'anof the modified form of adjustable stock-splitting vane of Figure 18; 1

Figure 20 isa central vertical section, simi lar to Figure 2, but upon a reduced scale,

showing a hopper construction capable of splitting the stock, this viewbeing taken in the planes indicated by the line 20-20, Figure 21;

Figure 21 is a plan-section, taken from the plane indicated by the line 21-21, Figure 20; and

Figure 22 is a fragmentary vertical section of one of the stock-splitting portions of the hopper shown in Figures 20 and 21, the view being taken in the plane indicated by the line 2222, Figure 21.

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the same parts are indicated by the same respective numbers in the several views, a furnace 1 is provided with a top ring 2' upon which is supported a hopper 3 whose lower end is extended inwardly of the'furnace and co-acts with a large lower hell 5' to suspend the charged material until it is to be deposited in the furnace. Mounted upon the hopper 3 is a hood or gas seal 6 making a tight joint at its top with a charging ring 7 upon which is mounted mechanism, hereinafter fully described, for supporting and rotating an upper hopper 8 and" mechanism for supporting and rotating stock-splitting vanes also hereinafter fully described; This rotatable hopper 8 co-acts with a small upper bell 9 to form a seal and the rotation of the hopper 8 induces the rotation of the small bell 9. A topmost fixed receiving hopper 77 discharges stock into the top of the rotatable hopper 8. Standard mechanism is utilized for vertically reciprocating the lower and upper bells 5 and 9 and for charging stock into the topmost fixed hopper 77, and one form of such mechanism is shown in the accompanying drawings and Wlll now be brlefly described. I

A. yoke 10 and a co-operating' clevis 11 serve to connect the large lower bell 5 to a supporting rod 12 which: is vertically reciprocat'ed through the medium of a rock arm 13 connected at one end to the top of the rod 12 and secured at its other: endto a cable 14 operated by suitable means (not shown) The small upperbellt 9 is suspended at the bottom of a vertically-reciprocable: split tubular rod 15 which surrounds the lower bell supporting rod 12 and which is rotatably suspended from a yoke 15a. This yoke 15a is-supported by a pair of rods, one of which is shown. at 1:57), which rods: are reciprocated by a pair of rock arms 16 connected to the. upper ends of the rods 15?) and. cables 17 serving to-actuate the arms 16 through suitable operating means (not shown). a A skip 18 actuatedby a cable 19 which latter also is operated by any suitable means (not shown) serves to charge stock into the fixed receiving hopper 77.

The stock charged through the receiving hopper 77 and into the rotating hopper 8 and upon the top of the small upper bell 9 can be turned through any" desired angle, by the rotation of the hopper 8 and the consequent rotatien of the upper hell 9, so as to deposit the successive charges,wh'en the small bell 9 is lowered, from the hopper 8 into any desired. position upon the large lower furnace-charging bell 5. As is well known, enough of such charges from the little bell 9 are deposited upon the large bell 5 to make a suitable furnace charge and then the large hell 5 is lowered to deposit the charge into the furnace, the little bell 9 meanwhile being held in its upper sealing position adjacent the lower edge of the rotatable hopper 8.

In order to split the charges from the hopper 8, when the small bell 9 is lowered, I provide stock-splitting vanes 20 which are contained within the furnace-top area between the small hell 9 and the large bell 5, there being two of these vanes in the form of device shown in Figures 1 and 2, for illustration; the invention, however, not being limited to any particular number of such stock-splitting vanes. These vanes 20 serve to split'the stock, as it falls from the small bell 9 to the large hell 5, into substantially radialpiles and, inasmuch; as the vanes.- 20 are rotatable by means hereinafter fully described, the stock-splitting efiect can be distributedluniformly or in any other desired spacing around the circumference of the large hell. 5 and serve to effect upon this large bell?) the desired distribution of the various materials, and the coarse and fines thereof, so that when the complete charge is deposited in the furnace, by the lowering of the large bell 5, a homogeneous-layer of stock is formed in the furnace.

The construction of the stock-distributing means and the mechanism for rotating the same are as follows: The vanes 20 are integrally formed with or secured to bars 21 which extend radially from the center of the furnace top and are provided with innor co-o-perating semi-circular portions 22 which are bolted or otherwise fastened together and surround the supporting means for the-large bell 5, as clearly shown in Fig ure 3. These vanes 20, in vertical section,

diverge downwardly to form a stock-splitting construction-clearly shown in Figure 5 and are secured to and suspended by upwardly extended plate 23, Figure 5, which in turn are bolted adjacent their upper edges to a sectional cylindrical tubular member or shell 2& concentric with, surrounding and spaced somewhat fromthe rotatable hopper 8, and within and somewhat spaced from the charging ring 7. This shell 2 1-is bolted adjacent its top by an external flange 2% to an internal flange 26 of a gear wheel 25 which is engaged by a spur pinion 27 keyed to a sleeve 28 to which is also keyed a bevel gear 29 driven by a bevel pinion 30. secured to a shaft 31 mounted; in a bearing bracket 50 and actuated by an operating shaft 32 driven from any suitable source of power such as the gear reduction unit 320iactuated by the motor 326 Figure 1. The gear wheel 25 is supported on an annular series of rollers 83, Figure 12, mounted on studs 34 supported by brackets 35 mounted on an annular channel member which is bolted to and supported by the charging ring 7. The mechanism just described is adapted to efi'ect the rotation of the stock-splitting vanes 20 at the times and to the extent de sired, and this rotation is'independent of the rotation of the hopper 8 and little bell 9. This-rotation of the stock-splitting vanes 20 is entirely optional with the operator as to when it is effected, and as to the extent of the rotation, so that the vanes 20 can be positioned at any time in any desired part of the furnace top area toeifect the stock-splitting function.

The rotatable hopper 8, Figure 12, is bolted adjacent its top by an external flange 8 to an internal flange 37 of a gear wheel 36 which is supported on an annular series of rollers 38 mounted on studs 39 supported in brackets 35. The gear wheel 36 engages a spur pinion 44, Figure 2, keyed to a shaft extending through the sleeve 28 and mounted in the bearing bracket 50, there also being keyed to the shaft 45 a bevel gear 46 engaging a bevel pinion 47 secured to a shaft 48 also mounted in the bearing bracket 50 and ac-.

tuated by a shaft 49 driven by any suitable source of power such as the gear reduction unit 49a actuated by the motor 49?), Figure 1. The mechanism just described effects the ro tation of the hopper 8 and consequently of the little bell 9. In order that the operation of closing the little bell 9 may not cause thehopper 8 to be thrust upwardly, I provide a third annular series of rollers 42, Figure 12, bearing upon the upper face of the gear wheel 36, which rollers are mounted on studs 43 supported in the brackets 35.

The bracket 50, Figure 6, is supported on the annular channel member 40, Figure 12, and is provided with journal boxes for the shafts 31 and 48, Figure 2, and is formed with laterally extended arms 51 within which the ends of the shaft 45 are journalled. The sleeve 28 surrounds that part of the shaft 45 which extends between the spur pinion 44 and the journal for the lower end of the shaft 45.

The cylindrical tubular member 24, Figure 12, which supports the vaneplates 23 is spaced adjacent its top portion from the rotatable hopper 8 by packing rings 54 and intermediate its ends and upon the outside is spaced from the annular channel 40 by the lower packing rings 53. Upper and lower annular plates 55 and 5,5 are bolted respectively to the flange 24 of the tubular member 24 and the annular channel member 40 and extend inwardly over the packing rings 54 and 53, respectively.

The rollers 33, 38, and 42 turn on the studs 34, 39, and 43, respectively, by means of roller bearings 57, Figure 15, enclosed by end caps 59 and inner annular grease-sealing closure members 60 which are bolted through the 43 each have enlarged body members 61, Figure 15 which are mounted in the brackets 35 i and which can be adjusted axially by a screw 62 and locked in position by a transverse screw 63, Figures 12 and 13. The axial adjustment of the rollers is provided for the purpose of maintaining the rotatable hopper 8 and the shell 24 in proper'axial alinement with the co-operating parts ofthe furnace through the medium of the flanges formed on the gears 25 and 36 and abutting the inner ends of the rollers. Also, the axial adjustment of the rollers provides means for equalizing the load upon the annular series of rollers.

Bolted to an upper external flange 8 F igure 12, of the rotatable hopper 8 is an annular ring 76. which surrounds and holds a tubular housing 51, Figure 1, mounted on the hopper 8 and forming in. effect an upward extension of the chamber of the hopper 8. Secured exteriorly of the housing 51 and adjacent the top thereof by a flange 52 is a downwardlyinclined shield member52 forming a protective cover for the hopper and vanerotating mechanism hereinbefore described. a

The small boll 9, rotatable hopper 8, supporting tubular rod 15, and the dilferent structural parts. of the hopper-rotating and vane-rotating mechanism are formed in two or more parts so as to facilitate the assembling of the same upon the furnace top when the large bell 5 and its supporting rod 12 are in place; g

Means are provided for locking and holding together the two or more parts of which the rotatable hopper 8 is comprised, and these means adjacent the top oft-he hopper 8 consist in the gear wheel 36, and adjacent the bottom of the hopper 8 comprise a split band 7 8, Figure 11, fitting a groove 8 formed in the exterior surface of the hopper 8, said band 78 being formed with ears 78 engaged by a bolt 7 9. This band 7 8 formsa clamp for the bottom of the hopper 8. i

It will be evidentthatthe downwardly diverging sides of the stock-splitting vanes 20, Figure 5, directionally affect the deposit of the stock charges upon the large bell 5. so that the direction in which the charges fall can be altered by changing the slope or direction of slope of these vanes. 1 show in acc'ompa. ying drawings three such modifications, referrin rst to Figure 16 in which the stock-splitting ane 64 tapers inwardly to effect the charging toward the center of the furnaceoof a comparaitely large part of the stock, and next 1 refer to Figure 17, in which the stock-splitting vane 65 is tapered outwardly to ell'ectt is charging toward the outer periphery ofthe furnace of a compara tivel'y large portion of the stock.

A third modified form of vanc-66 is shown in Figures 18 and 19. These vanes are adjustable ina vertical plane by reason of beingpivoted adjacent their inner ends upon. pins 67 mounted in bars 21% and by reason of being adjustably secured adjacent their outer ends between. bars 69 of bifurcated bottom end portions of supporting plates 68 which are bolted at the top to the rotatable cylindrical shell 24. T his last-described construction presents means adapted to permit the adjustment of the vane 66 during the operation of the furnace, to modify the directional distribution of the stock, inasmuch as doors 80 are provided in the gas seal (3, which permit access to the vane 66, when the large hell 5 is seated against the hopper 3.

In Figures 20,21, and 22, a rotatable stocksplitting hopper construction is shown, consisting of four supporting plates 75 which are secured to the peripheral base portion 70 of the rotatable cylindrical sleeve 24, which plates support four spaced sector-shaped stock-splitting vanes 71 forming alternate stock-discharge openings 72, the hopper being formed with a central open-top frustoconical wall portion 73 of substantially the same diameter as the small upper hell 9, and the outer inverted frusto-conical wall portion 74 of a diameter sufficiently large to intercept and deflect the falling charge of stock. This entire rotatable hopper construction is located between the small upper hell 9 and the large lower bell 5. In the form of hopper construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it consists of four units, Figure 21, bolted together, as shown in Figure 22.

What I claim is:

1. Charging means'for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; stocksplitting means having a plurality of spaced vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the bell; and means for rotating the vanes independently of the bell and hopper.

2. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; stocksplitting means having a plurality of spaced vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the bell; and optionally-utilized means for rotating the vanes.

3. Charging means for blast furnaces conprising a charging bell and hopper; means for rotating the bell and hopper; stock-splitting means having a plurality of spaced vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the bell; means secured to the stocksplitting means for supporting the latter independently of the bell and hopper; and

means for rotating the vanes independently of the rotation of the bell and hopper.

l. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising, a large lower bell and hopper; a small upper bell and hopper; supporting means; a cylindrical shell concentric with the upper hopper and mounted upon the supporting means; and spaced stock-splitting members secured to and suspended from the shell and. extended into the space between the bells for splitting stock discharged from the small bell into piles.

5. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising, a large lower bell and hopper; a small upper bell and hopper; supporting means; a cylindrical shell concentric with the upper hopper and mounted upon the supporting means; spaced stoclesplitting members secured to and suspended from the shell and extended into the space between the bells for splitting stock discharged from the small bell into piles; and means for rotating the stock-splitting members.

6. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising, a large lower bell and hopper a small upper bell and hopper; supporting means mounted exteriorly of and concentric with the upper hopper; spaced stock-splitting members suspended from the supporting means and extended into the space between the bells for splitting stock discharged from the small bell into piles; and means for rotating the stock splitting members.

7. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising, a large lower bell and hopper; a small upper bell and hopper; a hood enclosing'the space between the hoppers; an annular support mounted upon the hood; spaced stock-splitting members suspended from the support and extended into the space between t .e bells for splitting stock discharged from the: small bell into piles; and means for rotating the stock-splitting members.

8. Means for supporting and rotating charging means for; use in blast furnace operation comprising, in combination with a top construction, an annular base member adaptable for mounting on the furnace top; a plurality of brackets formed with ournal boxes and mounted on the base member; a shell concentric with the top and disposed above the top and adaptable for holding stock-splitting members in suspended condition; a gear secured to and exteriorly of said shell; rollers mounted in the journal boxes and upon which the gear rests; and means for rotating the gear.

9.. Means for supporting and rotating charging means for use in blast furnace operation comprising, in combination with a top construction, an annular base member adaptable for mounting on the furnace top; a charging bell and hopper formed to co-act to effect a seal; means for supporting the bell and vertically reciprocating the same; a bracket formed with ournal boxes and supported on the base member; two verticallyaligned series of rollers mounted in the journal boxes; two annular gears surrounding the hopper and resting on the two series of rollers, respectively, one of said gears being secured to the hopper; a shell concentric with the top and spaced exteriorly of the hopper and secured to the other gear; and means mounted on the base member for rotating the gears and including a second bracket and .journal boxes therein and shafts in said boxes, the gears being independently rotatable.

10. Means for supporting and rotating charging means for use in blast furnace operation comprising, in combination with a top construction, an annular base member adaptable for mounting on the furnace top; a charging bell and hopper formed to co-act to effect a seal; means for supporting the bell and vertically reciprocating the same; a bracket formed with journal boxes and supported on the base member; two verticallyaligned series of rollers mounted in the ournal boxes; two annular gears surrounding the hopper and resting on the two series of rollers,

respectively, one of said gears being secured to the hopper; a shell concentric with the top and spaced exteriorly of the hopper and secured to the other gear; and means mounted on the base member for rotating the gears.

11. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; a cylindrical member concentric with and surrounding the hopper; stock-splitting means secured to the cylindrical member and having a plurality of spaced vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the bell; and means for rotating the cylindrical member.

12. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; and stock-splitting means having a plurality of spaced vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the bell, the vanes being pivotally mounted so as to be adjustable ina vertical plane to vary the angle which they make with the path of the discharged stock.

13. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; a cylindrical member concentric with and surrounding the hopper stock-splitting means secured to the cylindrical member and having a plurality of spaced vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the bell; means for rotating the bell; and means for independently rotating the cylindrical member.

14. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging hopper; a verticallyreciprocable lower bell with which the hopper co-acts; a second hopper spaced from and mounted above the charging hopper; a hood enclosing the space between the hoppers; an upper bell mounted for vertical movement in the hood and associated with the upper hopper so as to form a seal therewith when in raised position; a plurality of spaced stock-splitting vanes extended/into the path of stock discharged from the upper bell toward the lower bell; and means concentric with and spaced from and surrounding the upper hopper for rotating the vanes.

15. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging hopper; a Verticallyreciprocable lower bell with which the hopper co-acts; a second hopper spaced from and mounted above the charging hopper; a hood enclosing the space between the hoppers; an upper bell mounted for vertical movement in the hoodv and associated with the upper hopper so as to form a seal therewith when in raised position; meansforrotating the up per hopper, this rotating inducing the rotation of the upper bell; a plurality of spaced SilOCikSPlittlIlg vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the upper bell to ward the lowerbell; and means concentric with and spaced from and surrounding the upper hopper for rotating the vanesythe rotation of the vanes being independent of the rotation of the upper hopper.

16. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; stock-splitting means having a plurality of inwardly tapered spaced vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the bell; and meansfor rotating the vanes independently of the bell and hopper.

17. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; stock-splitting means having a plurality of outwardly tapered spaced vanes extended into the path of stockdischarged from the bell; and means for rotating. the vanes in dependently of the bell and hopper. l8. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; stock-splitting means having a plurality of spaced vanes extended into the path of stock discharged from the bell, the vanes being pivotally mounted so as to be adjustable in a vertical plane to vary the angle which they make with the path of the discharged stock; and means for rotating the vanes independently of the bell and hopper.

19. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; a stock-splitting hopper mounted in the path of stock discharged from the bell and having a plurality of spaced blades and alternate openings; and means for rotating the stocksplitting hopper.

20. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; means for rotating the bell and hopper; a

' stock-splitting hopper mounted in the path of stock discharged from the bell and having a plurality of spaced blades and alternate openings; and means for rotating the stocksplitting hopper independently of the rotation of the charging bell and hopper.

2'1. Charging means for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell and hopper; a stock-splitting hopper mounted in the path of stock discharged from the bell and having an outer annular series of spaced blades and alternate openings and an inner annular flange forming a central opening; and means for rotating the stock-splitting hopper,

1 22. A stock-splitting hopper for use in blast furnace operation comprising a wall portion; spaced annular base rings; and spaced vanes connecting said rings and adapted to splitstock into piles.

23. A stock-splitting hopper for use in blast furnace operation comprising a side 'Wall; an outer annular depending flange secured to the side Wall; an inner annular base '10 ring defining a central hopper opening and an annular opening between the outer flange and the inner ring; and spaced veins extended transversely across the annular opening and adapted to split stock into piles.

15 24. In a. blast furnace top, a rotatable hopper and a vertically-reciprocable charging bell adapted to seat against the bottom of the hopper; and positive means preventing the lifting of the hopper by the seating of the bell. i

25. In a blast furnace top, a hopper and a charging vbell adapted to seat against the bottom of the hopper; a roller support for the hopper and means for turning the same upon said support; a vertically-reciprocable rod for seating and unseating the bell ;.and a roller abutment for preventing the lifting of the hopper by the lifting of the bell rod. Signed by. me this 6th day of June, 1931. 39 KARL FfJU-EhlGrLINGr. 

